co written by Charles Prior
“Write of Spring” at the Write Act Repertory Theatre is a collection of five one act plays that each have a compelling story to tell. The first is “A Side of Karma,” by Jorge Pulido, which describes several customers seated at a restaurant called ‘Karmic Creations.’ Subtitled, “A Menu to Die For,” customers keep trying to order items that should be on the menu, but the wise guy waiter tells them things like “that’s not it how it works here,” or “we have a sudden shortage of that.” Then, one diner enters the scene late, further complicating the tableau, as she informs all, that “you are what you are eat.” Snarky comments ensue, such as “you’re asking for salmon because it swims upstream,” meaning, you’re anti social, or “I’ll have the duck,” referring to that person’s love of beautiful birds, an obvious irony. And, in a tribute to “When Harry Met Sally,” actor Oraldo Austin, as the waiter, rolls his eyes, as he waits for a choice to be made. The man (Matt Roussel) blurts out “I’ll have what she’s having.” Very humorous, indeed! The second play, “Burn and Rave,” by Thomas Misuraca, is accompanied by the appropriate tune, “When I’m 64,” by the Beatles, is a senior party, held by six people, Letitia Carrasco; Dorian Frankel; Shawn Plunkett; Adam Wasser; and Yvette Price, who talk about colonoscopies, death, and the higher cost of living, while still enjoying life. A poignant statement about the theatre ensues, “I’m not paying $20 to see a playwright masturbate onstage,” and another, “Do you remember the fun we had with swing cocktail parties?” As they are discussing the availability of cemetery plots, they entertain the thought of possibly going to Vegas as the epitome of their bucket list. One actually gets in his car,honks his horn, and definitively drives off. So much for prevarication and the concept that “Action and words are a world apart.” Wonderful acting and great dialogue about growing older. The third play, “Velma and Manny,” by Rochelle Perry, features Courtney South as Velma, and Taylor Dam as Dennis. Velma is conversing with her would be ‘soulmate,’ Manny, an actual Ken doll, about the flakiness of true love, the freaky quality of dating, and men in general, when Dennis enters, and she tastes, “you don’t look like your photo,” and, in so many words, she says, “you don’t seem as bad as I thought you might be.” He replies, confidently, as they are in a cafe, “maybe we should order our food,” as to ascertain ‘who’s the boss.’ She is impressed, as the doll could never do that. They agree that they both love going to ‘The Itch,’ a porno club, where sex is the tantalizing tease that invariably breaks your heart. Despite Manny’s eerie presence, Dennis waxes poetically to Velma, about his heartfelt love, and kisses her passionately, so when she goes home, she tosses the doll in the garbage. Very powerful, emotional, and cathartic. The fourth play, “Love in Flight,” by Susan Hunter, is about a nature researcher, (Taylor Dam), and birdwatcher (Mary Nakanishi), who meet up in a park and seem to be having an opinionated conversation about birds in their natural habitat, when as appropriate foils, a raven (Oraldo Austin), and a thrush (Annie Zhang) enter, and strut their stuff defiantly. The humans argue about the validity of true love, and whether birds or people are the better species, who are better communicators, and the like. The ‘birds’ argue about which type is more beautiful and which one in cultural history is the greater symbol, possibly an inference to The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, and the thrush of many famous bird related poems. In the end, the pairs march off, joined in love. The final piece is “Spring Fever,” a musical by Darrin Yalacki and Tomek Fior, with Matt Roussel as Alex, and Courtney South, as Janie. This is a musical paean to love between two waiters at the Brew & Grind, and a flower shop salesgirl, who first sings the wonderful “Love is in the Air.” He is afraid to be too aggressive with her, especially after she tells him that she just got out of a bad relationship. He responds by singing “I’m Gonna Be Brave, and Tell her how I Really Feel.” She: “You seem like a nice guy,” but she intones, “maybe I’m safer being insular.” Next, she sings, “If I fall, will you catch me ,” and finally, “Let’s take the leap, since it is that blessed time of year, Spring Fever.” “Write of Spring” is a brilliant collaboration by an incredibly talented ensemble, both onstage and behind the scenes. The Write Act is an example of how greatness comes in small packages.
Bonnie Priever Curtain Up 